Maria Mercieca
10 Man-Friendly Valentine’s Day Ideas
Let's be real here: Valentine's Day isn't exactly topping anyone's favorite holiday list. The phrase "man-friendly Valentine's Day" may seem like an oxymoron. Some of you are probably thinking Valentine's Day isn't even a...
The Art of the Family Costume — Halloween Fun
When I think of October, the first two words that come to mind are FAMILY COSTUME. Never mind that the month also includes my birthday and my anniversary. We are going to dress up...
It Happened to Me: Coping with Another Woman
I always knew it was bound to happen, that another woman would come along and win over my sweetheart with her beauty and charm, but I never expected it to happen so soon, after...
Facebook Invites — Let’s Review Some Basic Etiquette, Shall We?
Look, I love technology as much as the next person, but there is one new norm from the virtual world we've created that I secretly despise: Facebook invites. Sure, they are convenient and easy,...
5 TV Moms Who Taught Me All I Needed to Know About Parenting
Confession: I didn't even know watching TV was "bad for you" until I became a mom. One minute I was binge-watching Downton Abbey for days on end and the next minute I had a...
DIY Birthday Party: Cat in the Hat Edition!
When I told my daughter, Violet, that I would be combining her birthday party with her little sister's last summer, I expected some pouting. Instead, she surprised me by announcing that she wanted a...
Shelburne Eats: My Top Five Picks for Best Local Kid-Friendly Restaurants
There's nothing like a homemade meal, right? Well, let's be honest here. There's something to be said about the sheer delight of driving to a destination far away from your own kitchen, paying a...
The Day I Found My “Mom Voice”
You don't have to be a mother to know what "Mom Voice" means. Chances are high that you've heard this vocal powerhouse come out from the woman in the grocery store chasing her offspring down...
My New Year’s Resolution: Laugh Less
I like to tell people that I'm not huge on New Year's resolutions, but the truth is, I pretty much make them every year. Sometimes they happen by accident, like the day I randomly...
From Auditions to the Stage: The Nutcracker Experience
It's the most magical time of the year! For some people, that means rocking out to "Jingle Bells," chopping down your own Christmas tree, or breaking out the Elf on the Shelf. For me,...
Dear TV-Shaming People: I Love Gilmore Girls, #SorryNotSorry
For months now, I have been carrying around a huge secret, a guilty pleasure that has been weighing on my soul, causing me to spend late nights in darkened rooms, sprawled out on my...
If I Could Turn Back Time: 5 Reasons to Love “Falling Back”
Well, it's that time of year again when my Facebook feed gets flooded with parents cursing the evils of Daylight Saving. Whether we're jumping ahead an hour in the spring or "falling back," moms...
Before the Rainbow: My Story of Pregnancy Loss and Miscarriage
October is pregnancy loss awareness month. A few weeks ago, one of our brave writers pointed out that women today don't talk about miscarriage enough. She spoke of the shame and embarrassment many women...
Top Five Reasons I’m a Terrible Parent According to Facebook
My first-time-preggo friend recently asked me, "What was the biggest surprise you got when you became a mom?" It's a loaded question. There are so many possible responses, but one answer instantly came to...